Aboriginal title claim threatens renewal of BC salmon farm tenures

The Common Sense Canadian, May 28, 2018:

A First Nation’s claim of Aboriginal title, filed today at the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver, threatens the future of some open net pen Atlantic salmon farms. Lawyer Jack Woodward, who filed the claim on behalf of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet, warned the NDP government it should not be renewing salmon farm tenures in their territory “in the face of this competing claim of ownership of the territory,” according to a media release on the case.

The claim takes aim at ten salmon farms operated by Marine Harvest and Cermaq within Dzawada’enuxw territory. Each of these aquaculture sites requires a provincially-granted “Licence of Occupation” in order to operate, most of which expire on June 20. The claim also affects some forest tenures, mostly inactive, held by Western Forest Products and Interfor.

“The fish farming industry is infringing on our way of life, by breaking the natural circle of life that has sustained us since time immemorial,” said Hereditary Chief Hawil’kwo’lal (Joe Willie). “This cannot continue.”

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About Jack Woodward, Q.C.

Located in Campbell River, BC Jack Woodward, Q.C., is a lawyer, author, teacher, farmer and beekeeper, with a life-long specialty in Aboriginal law. Author of Native Law, the foremost reference work in the field, and counsel on several of the leading cases which helped to shape the law, he is a frequent public speaker and commentator on developments in Aboriginal law.